Overlay.



No. 809,095. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906. G. W COMES.

OVERLAY.

APPLICATION FILED OOTY, 1904.

@Wmm-M (Var/E 6027165 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OVERLAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Apnlication filed October 7, 1904. Serial No. 227,602.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK W; CoMBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1722 First street northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overlays; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to printing, and has for its object the production of an improved overlay.

The overlays as at present constructed are objectionable for a number of reasons, one of which is the great length of time necessarily consumed in the several steps of construction of the overlays. Another reason is that the impressions on the job-sheets are not uniform, thereby producing an uneven Wear on the printing-surface and allowing too heavy an impression showing through the surface on the back of the sheet.

By my improved method I am enabled to produce in a comparatively short space of time an overlay which will insure printing having uniformity of impressions, and consequently obtaining an even wear on the printing-surface and preventing too heavy an impression showing through the surface on the back of the sheet.

By my improved overlay I am also enabled to obtain a very large number of uniform impressions before the printing-surface and underlay are rendered unfit for further use.

The improved overlay effects in printing sharp and clear impressions which show the darks, high lights, and the details of every shade and dispenses With the necessity of cutting out and patching, with the consequent liability of nonregist ering.

The nature of my invention will be readily comprehended, reference being had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the process and the finished article in their preferred forms of embodiment, it being understood that various modifications may be made therein without exceeding the scope of the concluding claims. For example, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular materials hereinafter specified, nor do I confine myself to the use of a sandblast for the preparation of the surface of the overlay, and in other respects the process or certain of the steps thereof may be variously modified and the structure of the finished article may be changed, dependent upon the kind of work to be performed or the conditions surrounding the same.

- In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the body from which the overlay is made. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a printing-surface. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the body after the first step of the method has been performed. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the printing-surface. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a further step in the method. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate still further steps in the method. Fig. 9 is a View of the finished overlay previous to the step of washing to remove the covered surfaces. Fig. 10 is a view of the printing-surface and overlay in the act of printing on an interposed sheet.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a printing plate or cut having thereon printing-surfaces 2 2, and 3 is the mounting for said plate, which mounting is employed to bring the plate type high. The body of the overlay may be composed of any number of thicknesses. The thickness or section 4 constitutes the overlay proper and may be of celluloid or other material capable of being acted upon to produce an overlaysurface conforming to the surface of the printing-plate. 5 is the packing-section of said body, and 6 is an interposed section, the thickness of which will correspond to the thickness of the ink or equivalent material applied in the second step of the method. The portion or layer 7 which is interposed between the portions 4 and 6 will correspond in thickness to the thickness of the sheet to be printed upon.

In practicing my improved method and for the purpose of constructing my improved overlay the overlay-body and printing-surface are brought together, and pressure being applied depressions 8 8 are formed by the printing-surfaces in the surface of the sheet or portion 4. The body and printing-sub face are then separated, andthe printing-surfaces are coated with ink, paint, partly-oxidized oil, or the equivalent thereof, as shown at 9 9, Fig. 6. Thebody and printing-surface are then again brought together, and the coatings on the printing-surfaces are deposited in the bases of the depressions, as shown in Fig. 7. The body having the coated depression is then subjected to the action of a sand-blast or other means capable of cutting or wearing away the surfaces uncovered by the coatings 9. When the action of the sandblast or equivalent means is completed, the soft, and after the several steps of the overlay will appear as in Fig. 9, The coatings are then removed by washing or otherwise, and the overlay is then ready for use. In Fig. I have shown the use of the overlay in conjunction with the printing-surface in the act of printing, and it will be observed that inasmuch as the elevations 10 10, which were formerly the bases of the depressions, remained undisturbed throughout the several steps of the process and having in the first instance been made and fixed by the impressions of the printing-surface said elevations 10 10 will exactly coincide with the printing-surface, and the impressions on the job-sheet 11 will thus be uniform throughout.

The thickness of the printing ink will approximate one-third the thickness of the coating 9, and as the latter is removed a sheet 12, having a thickness equal to two-thirds that of coating 9, is added, as shown in Fig. 10. Any material capable of being initially depressed by the printing-surface and of being subsequently cut away by the action of the sand-blast or its equivalent will answer the purpose, and in this connection it is reiterated that my invention is not concerned with the particular material to be employed, but relates to the improved overlay and the improved method of producing the same. In lieu of the use of the sand-blast the parts of the body between the elevations 1O 10 may be removed by etching or any other suitable process. The material of the overlay portion 4 may in the first instance be relatively method have been performed the surface thereof maybe hardened, whereby to prolong its period of usefulness.

The overlay after the depressions are made therein, or the finished overlay, maybe reproduced in any desired material in any wellknown manneras, for example, by molding or by electrotyping by positive and negative molds.

I claim as my invention 1. The herein-described method of making overlays, which consists in forming depressions in the overlay-surface by the printingsurface under pressure, inking the printingsurface with suitable material, transferring the material from the printing-surface to the bases of the depressions by bringing the overlay and printing-surfaces into contact, removing the portion of the overlay surface not covered by the material to produce elevations on said overlay-surface in lieu of the former depressions, and finally removing said material.

2. An overlay having elevations and depressions, said elevations coinciding in planes and positions with the planes and positions of the elevations of its respective printingsurface.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARK W. COMES. Witnesses:

F. L. BROWNE, E. L. WHITE. I 

